Aussies go into bat for Buchanan

Australian cricketers have rallied around test coach John Buchanan after champion leg spinner Shane Warne questioned his relevance to the team.

23 Sep 2006 09:21 GMT

Ricky Ponting is also standing behind his coach

The Victorian was quoted in the British press as saying Buchanan "over-complicates issues" and "lacked a bit of commonsense" as well as suggesting the side didn’t need a coach at all.

Former Australian fast bowler Damien Fleming told the Australian newspaper that Warne valued coaching, particularly that of cricket academy mentor Terry Jenner.

"Warney has been saying what he thinks about coaches but he's got a very important mentor in Terry Jenner," Fleming said.

"Coaches and mentors are very important, don't worry about that, whether it is for a team or individual."

Vice captain Adam Gilchrist, also backed the coach without dismissing the criticisms of his team mate.

"Some of his methods did confuse some players and I'm sure there are players over time who haven't taken well to the way he works and that's fine - we're all different people," he told the newspaper.

"I understand that some people might be uncertain about his philosophies but my overriding perception is that as a cricket coach and man manager his overall goal is to better his players as people. With that will come being better cricketers."

Test opening batsman Justin Langer believed Buchanan had laid the ground work for Australia's remarkable success as a Test and one-day team.

"His greatest strength is his vision and his courage to plant the seed of achievement in a very talented side," the West Australian said.

"It's easy to go through the motions but one thing that inspires very good players and successful people is to keep trying to extend them all the time."

The Australian Cricket Board is currently searching for a replacement for Buchanan who announced he would retire after next year’s World Cup in the West Indies.